Britain this Friday, 31 January ends almost half a century of integration with its closest neighbours and leaves the European Union, starting a new - but still uncertain - chapter in its long history.
EU funding for British Overseas Territories organisations and the impact of Brexit on business and travel are all subjects covered in a Brexit update from the Minister for the Commonwealth, the UN and South Asia this week, according to the transcript published by the Falkland Islands weekly “Penguin News”.
The travel and tourism industry in the UK and the rest of the European Union has been bracing for this moment. The UK formally will leave the European Union (EU) at 23:00 on Friday, 31 January. However, the UK will immediately enter an 11-month transition period. Flights, boats and trains will operate as usual.
Boris Johnson's government plans to reclaim control over British fisheries with a law allowing the U.K. to decide who can fish in its waters and on what terms. The legislation to be published this week will end current automatic rights for European Union vessels to fish in British waters, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said in an emailed statement.
Squeezed between an argument over what to call its transport strategy and a debate on the coronavirus, the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of Britain's orderly departure from the European Union. It was an anti-climactic way to issue the UK's last rites.
Queen Elizabeth II signed off on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit deal, paving the way for the United Kingdom to depart the European Union next week. After passing the final hurdle of obtaining the Queen's approval on Thursday, the Brexit bill is officially law, and the country is expected to exit the EU on Jan. 31.
Boris Johnson has said the UK has “crossed the Brexit finish line” after Parliament passed legislation implementing the withdrawal deal. The EU Bill, which paves the way for the country to leave the bloc on 31 January, is now awaiting royal assent.
The government of Boris Johnson lost three votes in the Lords over its Brexit legislation - its first defeats since the election. Peers supported calls for EU nationals to be given a physical document as proof they have the right to live in the UK after it leaves the bloc.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson told African leaders on Monday that Britain would be more open to migrants from their continent after Brexit as he hosted a summit intended to boost trading ties.
Britain will issue special coins, fly the Union Jack and project a countdown clock on the walls of Downing Street - but not bong Big Ben - on Brexit night, the government said on Friday.